Description

Arum maculatum, also known as Lords-and-Ladies or Cuckoo Pint, is a valuable addition to naturalistic, shade-tolerant landscapes. This hardy perennial thrives in semi-shade and moist, humus-rich soils, making it especially suited to woodland gardens, rewilding projects, and underplanting schemes. Its distinctive, arrow-shaped leaves emerge in late winter and may feature dark purple spotting. In spring, pale green to purplish hooded spathes appear, enclosing a spike-like spadix, which adds sculptural interest to the planting. Later in the season, it produces a striking column of bright red berries—an ornamental bonus in wilder garden settings. Well suited for biodiversity-focused designs, Arum maculatum supports early pollinators and contributes to layered ecological plantings.